Accessing USB storage devices connected to the FRITZ!Box over a VPN connection

The mechanisms that operating systems such as Windows or macOS use to automatically detect and display USB storage devices connected to the FRITZ!Box only work within the home network, and therefore not over VPN.

However, there are still two ways to access a USB storage device connected to a remote FRITZ!Box over a VPN connection. Which method makes most sense depends on whether you prefer to use a web browser, or whether you would rather use the Windows Explorer or macOS finder to access network shares.

Important:You cannot access a USB storage device connected to the remote FRITZ!Box if the USB remote connection is enabled for the USB storage device.

1 Preparations

Determine the local IP address of the remote FRITZ!Box with the USB storage devices you would like to access.

Note:The local IP address is the IP address at which the FRITZ!Box can be reached in the home network. The FRITZ!Box has the IP address 192.168.178.1 in the factory settings. However, the IP address is usually adjusted when the VPN connection is set up.

2 Accessing USB storage devices with a web browser

Call up the address http://[IP address of the remote FRITZ!Box]/nas (for example http://192.168.10.1/nas) in a web browser.

If you are asked to enter a password, enter the password required to access the FRITZ!Box user interface.

If you are asked to enter a user name and password, enter the name and password of a FRITZ!Box user who is authorized to access NAS contents.

Note:You can edit the access rights for FRITZ!Box users under "System > FRITZ!Box Users" or "System > FRITZ!Box Password" in the user interface.

3 Accessing USB storage devices over a network share

Windows 10

In the search box in the Windows taskbar, enter two backslashes followed by the IP address of the computer with the shares you would like to access.

Example:\\192.168.10.1

Press Enter.

If you are asked to enter a user name and password, enter the name and password of a FRITZ!Box user who is authorized to access NAS contents.

Note:You can edit the access rights for FRITZ!Box users under "System > FRITZ!Box Users" or "System > FRITZ!Box Password" in the user interface.

Now a window displaying all of the partitions on the connected USB storage devices opens (in some cases, the network folder "FRITZ.NAS" is displayed first).

If you would like to map a folder as a network drive, right-click it and select "Map network drive..." from the context menu. If the option "Map network drive..." is not displayed:

Click "This PC" in the navigation area on the left side, and then click "Computer" in the menu bar.

Click "Map network drive...".

Enter the path to the folder you would like to map as a network drive in the "Folder" field.

Windows 8

Press the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Q.

Now the search bar opens.

In the search field, enter two backslashes followed by the local IP address of the remote FRITZ!Box.

Example:\\192.168.10.1

Press Enter.

If you are asked to enter a user name and password, enter the name and password of a FRITZ!Box user who is authorized to access NAS contents.

Note:You can edit the access rights for FRITZ!Box users under "System > FRITZ!Box Users" or "System > FRITZ!Box Password" in the user interface.

Now a window displaying all of the partitions on the connected USB storage devices opens (in some cases, the network folder "FRITZ.NAS" is displayed first).

If you would like to map a folder as a network drive, right-click it and select "Map network drive..." from the context menu. If the option "Map network drive..." is not displayed:

Click in the navigation area on the left side and then click on "Computer" in the menu bar.

Click "Map network drive...".

Enter the path to the folder you would like to map as a network drive in the "Folder" field.

Windows 7

In Windows, click "Start".

In the "Search programs and files" or "Start search" field, enter two backslashes followed by the local IP address of the remote FRITZ!Box.

Example:\\192.168.10.1

Press Enter.

If you are asked to enter a user name and password, enter the name and password of a FRITZ!Box user who is authorized to access NAS contents.

Note:You can edit the access rights for FRITZ!Box users in the user interface under "System > FRITZ!Box Users" or "System > FRITZ!Box Password".

Now a window displaying all of the partitions on the connected USB storage devices opens (in some cases, the network folder "FRITZ.NAS" is displayed first).

If you would like to map a folder as a network drive, right-click it and select "Map network drive..." from the context menu. If the option "Map network drive..." is not displayed:

Click "Tools" and then "Map network drive...".

Enter the path to the folder you would like to map as a network drive in the "Folder" field.

macOS

Open the Finder.

From the "Go" menu, select "Connect to Server...".

Enter the local IP address of the remote FRITZ!Box in the "Server Address:" field.

Example:192.168.10.1

Click "Connect".

If you are asked to enter a user name and password, enter the name and password of a FRITZ!Box user who is authorized to access NAS contents.

Note:You can edit the access rights for FRITZ!Box users in the user interface under "System > FRITZ!Box Users" or "System > FRITZ!Box Password".

Now a window displaying all of the partitions on the connected USB storage devices opens (in some cases, the network folder "FRITZ.NAS" is displayed first).

If you would like to permanently add a folder to the Finder:

Select the folder, and then select "Make alias" from the Finder menu "file".

Drag the alias you made to the "places" area of the Finder.

Linux and other operating systems

Use the SMB protocol (Server Message Block) and the local IP address of the remote FRITZ!Box to access the connected USB storage devices. Refer to the manufacturer of the operating system for information on the procedure.